New CD Releases, March 17: Willie Nelson, Marianne Faithful, Static-X, The Script, BoA, and more!
Willie Nelson “Naked Willie” (Sony)
Willie fans haven’t been hurting for new products to buy. The country legend quickly follows this year’s collaboration with Asleep at the Wheel, “Willie and the Wheel”–which itself followed two 2008 albums: the solo outing “Moment of Forever” and the Willie/Wynton Marsalis affair, “Two Men With the Blues”–with the release of “Naked Willie.”
This 17-track CD mines Nelson’s early career as a professional songwriter, from 1966 to 1970. Fans might know these songs, but they’ve never heard them like this before.
The story is that Nelson and his longtime harmonica player, Mickey Raphael, went back to the original multi-track recordings and re-mixed the songs, stripping away all the high-gloss production tricks (big string sections, tons of back-up singers, etc.), which were so prevalent at the time, in an effort to find the essence of each song.
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Marianne Faithfull Easy Come, Easy Go” (Decca)
The acclaimed songbird, who has collaborated with everyone from David Bowie and Nick Cave to Roger Waters and Metallica, returns with her 22nd album, “Easy Come, Easy Go,” which follows 2005’s “Before the Poison.”
Produced by longtime collaborator Hal Wilner–who has previously worked with the likes of Lucinda Williams and Lou Reed–“Easy Come, Easy Go” consists of all covers and includes songs originally made famous by Dolly Parton, Brian Eno and the Decemberists, among others. The disc is also rich with guest stars, such as Keith Richards, Rufus Wainwright and Cat Power.
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Static-X “Cult of Static” (Reprise)
The metal mavericks are back with their sixth studio album, which follows 2007’s “Cannibal.” The first single is the track “Stingwray,” reportedly a reference to lead singer Wayne Static’s wife, Tera Wray, and her Corvette Stingray.
“Cult of Static” was produced by John Travis, who also was at the controls for “Cannibal.” The new album features the tune “Lunatic,” which appeared earlier on the “Punisher: War Zone” soundtrack, as well as a guest appearance by Megadeth’s Dave Mustaine.
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The Script “The Script” (Sony)
The Irish pop/rock trio has already achieved much success on the other side of the Atlantic. The band’s eponymous debut was released in late 2008 in Europe and has since gone on to multi-platinum sales figures. Now, the Script will try its luck in the US as it sees the stateside release of its self-titled disc. We can think of no better time for an Irish act to release an album than on St. Patrick’s Day.
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BoA “BoA” (SM Entertainment)
Boa Kwon, better known simply as “BoA” (short for “Beat of Angel”), started her march to fame at an early age. The South Korean pop singer released her 2000 debut when she was just 13 and has since become a major star throughout Asia.
Listeners on this side of the Pacific now have the chance to get to know BoA, as she offers up her self-titled US debut.
More new releases:
Bonnie Prince Billy, “Beware” (Drag City)
Les Claypool, “Of Fungi and Foe” (Prawn Song)
Dudu Fisher, “In Concert From Israel” (Mesa)
Mick Fleetwood, “Blue Again” (429)
Gorilla Zoe, “Don’t Feed Da Animals” (Bad Boy)
Annie Lennox, “The Annie Lennox Collection (Deluxe Edition)” (Sony)
Little Walter, “The Complete Chess Masters (1950-1967)” (Hip-O)
Nick Lowe, “Quiet Please: The New Best of Nick Lowe” (Yep Roc)
Nils, “Up Close and Personal” (Baja)
Ràyksopp, “Junior” (Astralwerks)
Randy Travis, “I Told You So: The Ultimate Hits of Randy Travis” (Warner Bros.)
Twiztid, “W.I.C.K.E.D.” (Psychopathic)
Bebo Valdes, “Juntos Para Siempre” (Red Ink)
Wavves, “Wavves” (Fat Possum)
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